Peak Human - Unbiased Nutrition Info for Optimum Health, Fitness & Living Part 229 -Reviving Regenerative Agriculture with Will Harris
Oct 29, 2025
Will Harris, a fourth-generation farmer and owner of White Oak Pastures, shares his journey transforming from traditional to regenerative agriculture. He discusses the challenges of economic transition and the benefits of vertically integrated farming. Will emphasizes the crucial role of community support in sustainable food systems and highlights the impact of regenerative practices on soil health. Through educating consumers about grass-fed beef, he combats misleading food marketing, advocating for local resilience over global solutions while fostering hope for the future of farming.
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White Oak Pastures' Vertical Integration
- Will Harris runs White Oak Pastures, a multi-species farm with on-site USDA slaughter and direct-to-consumer shipping to 48 states.
- He built vertically integrated operations to regain more of the food dollar and control supply chain constraints.
Farmers' Share Of The Food Dollar Is Tiny
- Farmers receive a tiny share of the food dollar (around 14 cents), while processors and marketers capture most profits.
- That economic squeeze turned farming into an asset-heavy, low-return occupation and distorted the food system.
From Wagon Sales To Monoculture Cattle
- Will's farm was originally fully vertically integrated selling meat from a wagon before WWII-era industrialization shifted it to monoculture cattle.
- His father turned it into a simplified cattle operation focused on efficiency and feedlot markets.
